Off we go on a camping vacation to France. Two filled gas cylinders are on board – normally sufficient for a vacation. But what if you want to stay in the country for longer? Do the French propane gas cylinders fit? Can I get my gray bottles from Germany refilled in France? In this article, I will answer the most important questions about gas supply in France.
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Which gas cylinders are available in France?
As many households in France still cook with gas, there are many suppliers of gas cylinders. The gas supply is excellent – even in the smallest village, gas is often available at the EPI store.
The best-known suppliers are Antragaz, Butangaz, Finagaz and Primagaz. In addition, supermarket chains such as Intermarché have their own gas cylinders, which are often slightly cheaper than the branded cylinders.
While 11 kg and 5 kg are common in Germany, in France you will mainly find 13 kg and 5 or 6 kg bottles. There are also 10 kg bottles available and so-called safety bottles. So it’s pretty confusing if you want to buy gas for your motorhome in France.
The dimensions of French bottles also differ from those of German manufacturers. You should therefore know the dimensions of your gas locker. The German 5 kg bottles have a diameter of 22.9 cm and a height of 50.5 cm, the 11 kg bottles have a diameter of 30 centimeters and a height of 60.
You can see the dimensions of the French bottles in the table below. Gas prices in France also differ from those in Germany. As you are only renting the bottle and not buying it, you will also have to pay a deposit, which will be refunded when you return it. You must keep the receipt for this!
Propane or butane?
Unlike in Germany, butane is much more common than propane. This is due to the fact that many French households still cook on gas stoves with bottles. However, propane may not be used indoors in France. As a rule, you will buy propane gas cylinders as you can also use them at sub-zero temperatures. With butane, however, you have an even greater choice of cylinders.
Good to know: The respective butane gas cylinders from the manufacturers Antargaz, Burtagaz, Finagaz and Primagaz differ from the propane gas cylinders in terms of filling and color, but not in terms of dimensions. Most campers use the gray-blue 13 kg propane gas cylinders from Butagaz, which are very similar in size to the German 11 kg cylinders. Butane-filled cylinders are blue metallic.
And finally, in France, like everywhere else in Europe, you can buy Campinggaz bottles. However, they have the disadvantage that they are small and relatively expensive. However, they are ideal for camping vacations.
How do I connect the French gas cylinder?
If you read the relevant camping forums, you will have noticed that opinions differ on this issue. Many campers have found that they can connect the standard bottles to the German system without any problems. Others report that they would not have been able to seal the connections without the gas sampling adapters.
So my advice: safety always comes first! Get a Euro gas extraction set and connect the gas cylinder to it. That way you are on the safe side. For France you need the D4 connection. After connecting, you should check the connections for leaks using a leak detector spray.
- Zum Anschluss eines Druckreglers mit deutschem Anschluss an die auf dem eurpäischen Markt gängigen…
- Bestehend aus Übergangsstutzen 1 bis 4
Good to know: The handy (and expensive) cubes can only be connected with a special adapter available in France. You need a safety cylinder valve to connect Campingaz cylinders to your gas system. Everything else you need to know about gas connections can be found in the article Gas adapter when camping in Europe.
Filling gas cylinders in France
The French system is fundamentally different from the German system. In France, it is customary to rent a bottle and pay a deposit. When the bottle is empty, you take it back to the retailer and get a full bottle. German gas cylinders are yours and will be refilled.
The best alternative if you run out of gas on your trip to France is to get a French model and return it before you leave the country. The good thing about the gas supply in France is that you can really buy gas cylinders everywhere: at petrol stations, supermarket filling stations, DIY stores, at the Bar-Tabac and in the small village stores. Campsites have gas in stock anyway.
You can’t refill empty propane or butane cylinders anywhere in France, not even the gray German gas cylinders. That’s why you don’t need a filling adapter for France. You can buy Campinggaz in many supermarkets, DIY stores and garden centers.
LPG tanks in motorhomes are a clever alternative. These must be permanently installed in the motorhome, comply with the relevant legal regulations regarding gas shut-off in the event of an accident and be equipped with a filling stop. There are special LPG cylinders that are suitable for installation and refueling at LPG filling stations throughout Europe.
Installation should be carried out by a specialist workshop. You need a special adapter for France to fill up LPG bottles at the filling station with GPL, as it is called in France. Filling normal gas cylinders at the filling station is prohibited in France.
Conclusion: Gas cylinders in France – not so complicated after all
Even if the range of gas cylinders is somewhat confusing at first glance, connecting the right gas cylinder is ultimately quite simple using the Euro adapter. Make sure you hire a suitable gas cylinder for your gas locker and check for leaks after connection. Permanently installed LPG cylinders or tanks are an alternative in a motorhome if you want to be on the road more often or for longer periods.
Photos: (c) Barbara Homolka | (c) CamperStyle
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